You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September, 2007.
Upper West Side, Manhattan
And you know I love a full moon.
It definitely inspired some slightly off the wall moblogging here and here
This is a great time to start a new project, and before my head touches the pillow tonight I will have one.
The Alfred Hitchcock Magazine arrived today, and holding it my hand took me right back to 1980.
I’m going on 19 years. There I am walking through Central Park. My hair is super short, and I’m wearing these amazing earrings. Multi-colored beads, porcupine quills and silver from Mexico. They’re so long they brush my shoulders. I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer, but when I do wear some I like big pieces.
There are no cell phones, Internet or CDs. I write at least one letter a day in long hand to a Marine stationed in Okinawa. My first semester at college will be starting in a couple of weeks. Pay Phones are a dime, first run movies 5 bucks and cigarettes are 85 cents. I love wearing vintage from Screaming Mimi’s.
What were you doing in 1980?
This meme came to me by way of Candid Karina
I’m posting the answers to her interview questions here on my blog. Anyone I interview will post the answers to my questions on their blog.
Ok, here we go:
I’ll start with the question I’m asking everyone, which is: Tell us the why and when of your blog. When did you start and why did you start?
The Internet came into my life in late ‘98. I remember a lot of sites like women.com and Ivillage were giving members space to create their own sites. I made my first site at women.com. Every page was a different color with every animated graphic I could find online.
Eventually women.com and other sites like it stopped the free web hosting. That was just about the time I saw my first identifiable blog. It was at Xanga. A free easy to update online journal that came with a community of people. Why not? I started my own that very afternoon.
Since then I’ve had a lot of blogs at a lot of places. I left Xanga after about a year and a half and went to Angelfire. While my blog was at Angelfire I let my friend Heart read it. He loved it, and that gave me the confidence to expand a little. I went to Square Space and then Blogger. While I was at Blogger I created a second blog just for memes. I moved both blogs here to WP, and added one for creative writing. My Photostroll site is over at GoDaddy, and my mobile and audio blogs are at Blogger.
I was brought up in a very business-oriented family. Artistic endeavors, other than sewing, were not encouraged. Blogging has allowed me to be as artistic as I want to be. All I need is my laptop, digital camera and cell phone.
She Who Blogs came into being in May of this year. It’s been an experience that only gets better as each day goes by.
I’ll be blogging till they carry me away to my grave. I’ve always said I want my headstone to read Have A Great Time Wish You Were Here. Love, Frances. A web address just may be added to that.
It seems I’m also asking this of all the bloggers who are married, I wonder if it means anything about me? Hmm…Anyway, tell us about your husband. How did you two meet? How did you know he was the one?
My husband and I met in the summer of ‘82, by the cigarette machine in my dad’s grocery store. We sold our cigarettes for only a dollar; everyone else charged a dollar twenty-five. We both smoked at the time.
Our first date was July 4th, and we decided to get married two weeks later. We were in our own apartment by August 18th. We’ve been together ever since.
He gave up cigarettes ten years ago; I still sneak a few now and again.
I know you recently wrote about your daughter in Sunday Scribblings, but here is your chance to really brag about her. Tell us all about her.
My daughter will be 25 on April 30th. She’s been married for three years now.
I guess every mom thinks her kid is the best, and I’m no different.
If I had to pick one incident that would show you the kind of person she is it would have to be this:
It’s Audition Day at The High School of the Performing Arts. The lobby is jammed with anxious parents. My daughter is led away from me, and I want to grab her leg and hold on.
Every girl seems be a size four blonde in jeans and a tank top. My daughter is size twelve with long auburn hair reaching her waist. She’s wearing a black pleated skirt, a blue top, stockings and heels. Her dress for success outfit.
It’s about 8am. The chair I’m sitting in is regulation uncomfortable.
The clock is ticking. No cell phone. I try to read, but I read the same page over and over again without knowing what it’s about.
None of the parents are talking to each other. It’s like we’re all competing or something.
9. 10. 11. Noon. I’m told that I can go for lunch and come back.
What’s going on down there?
Kids who completed their auditions have been dribbling steadily out. There’s hundreds of kids. I hope she’s going to get a chance to be seen.
I’m slipping in and out of meditation at this point. It makes the time go by much easier.
The big hand is on the 12 and the little hand on the two. Six hours in the same chair. Nope gotta do something.
Get up and head casually for the ladies room. The security guards turn to talk to an anxious parent.
Window of opportunity. Gotta act fast.
I’m through the stairway door so fast I shock myself. At the bottom of steps is a big metal door that I inch open slowly. Good no one is in the hallway. I slip out and walk slowly down the hall. Each of the dark wooden doors has a little window; I just want to see her. If I see her I’ll be okay.
By the third door I see her. All the kids are practicing scenes outloud as they wait there turn to audition. Each is in their own world. My daughter is sitting on the floor with a young girl who is sobbing. My daughter pats her shoulder and whispers something in her ear. She sits back against the wall, the girl wipes her eyes picks up her playbook and begin to read outloud. My daughter’s smile makes her smile.
Tears fill my eyes now, as they did then.
I creep back down the hall, and up the steps. As I come through the door, a security guard says “No parents allowed downstairs!”
“I’m looking for a ladies room.”
“Oh, right over there ma’m”
“Thanks”
Two hours later my daughter was accepted as a student at the school.
Really, how do you do it all? You have…is it 6 blogs now? And you run SheWhoBlogs (and do it very well, I might add). And from your posts I know you live a busy “real world” life as well. How do you do it?
When you love what you’re doing, the way I love what I’m doing, it just happens.
Tell us something about “your” New York. I just love reading your posts about your days in the city, tell us a little something.
My New York is waiting for me right outside my door every morning.
Like a good lover it always has a little surprise and never disappoints.
I often just wander the streets, taking pictures and stopping in little cafes and stores.
There’s always someone to talk to, something to do, something to see.
If you’d like to be interviewed let me know via the comments section.
Sending bloglove to you all.
Just ordered from Empire Szechuan: juicy buns, cripsy veggie rolls and cold noodles with sesame sauce.
Got my Sunday Scribbling up, this week’s theme was Hi, my name is… to be interpreted any way we liked. I went with a bit about myself. I don’t like having my picture taken, but there is an adorable pic of my daughter’s English Bull Dog. Believe me she is much more photogenic!
This week’s Saturday Photo Hunt theme was paper, so I used some pictures I took at The Fashion Institute. The students did a project where they created clothing out of paper.
Our Yahoo Group She Who Blogs has grown to 39 members since we started in May. What an amazing group of women.
I’m hoping for clear weather tomorrow, so I can take some pics. I took this one last Sunday at Zingone’s on Columbus Avenue.
Whenever I see fresh basil I think of my grandmother. She used to grow pots and pots of the stuff on the balcony and windowsills. She would use fresh leaves during the summer, and when fall came she would dry her harvest on the stove hood, and use the empty jars she would save to store them.
The woman loved a good empty jar. Jelly used to come in jars that could be used as a glass when it was empty. We had a cupboard full of those.
Empty mayo jars would become piggy banks dedicated to different projects. After I moved out I would go to visit and do small chores for her. She would put some money in a silver paper wrapped mayo jar. There was a red bow around the neck to indicate it was “Frannie’s Christmas Jar.” There was no way to stop here; she loved doing it. Four or five loads of laundry rated 2 bucks 
Yay! the delivery guy is at the door - I’m starving
Spent the evening having dinner with friends. Nothing better than good food and conversation.
During the cab ride home I spoke with my young actor friend/theatre partner. We’ll give him Brando for a blog name okay?
We’ll be seeing two plays together soon, and I’ll be going to watch him perform in early October.
Brando is quite versatile, and handles comedic and dramatic roles equally well.
And he has a birthday coming up - The Big Three O.
I told him I was looking forward to shopping for his gift.
He told me not to worry about getting him a gift, but of course I am so getting him something anyway.
This is what he said regarding my birthday in December:
If I’m poor at the time I’m going to get you what I can, but if I am rich I’m getting you everything!
Now you can’t ask for more than that can you?
Boy, do I remember dreading my 30th. I felt very old . But ten years later when I turned 40 I felt very young. It was one of my best birthdays ever; I celebrated every night for a week. This December I will be 46 years young, and again the festivities will last for at least one week.
I sent Brando links to my blogs recently, and he has become a reader.
Now I have to get him started on a blog of his own!
I’m sure he’s laughing at the above line.
Let’s see what picture shall I sign off with?
Ah! Here’s a picture of a funky bathtub garden; I took it on Sunday while walking around Brooklyn with best galpal.
Good nite all.
So I get home this evening, drop into a chair and check the mail.
No I don’t need another credit card. One envelope hits trash.
Scientology has been writing me for 10 years, and I haven’t responded once, guess they have a lot to spend on postage. One more envelope and a brochure hits the round file.
Here’s a check from one of the credit card companies - write yourself a good time Frances - the interest will be low the payments forever. Request denied.
Now what to do?
Maybe an iced chai and a writing session on my NEO? Yes, that’s just what I need.
Within seconds I’m back out the door.
The night air is cool, so I stand on the stoop for a few minutes enjoying it.
A well-dressed man walks up to me.
“Do you live or work in this building?”
“I live here.”
Figured he was going to ask if I knew of an available apartment. Every other person in Manhattan needs an apartment.
“Would you care to get high with me?”
“I’m waiting for my husband. Thanks for the invitation.”
“Here’s my bus.”
“Enjoy your ride.”
Welcome to my life.
Okay now the question is do I look like someone who wants to get high?
Maybe I looked desperate for a caffeine high, and he mistook it for something else.
Had he not had a bus to catch I might have questioned him on this, but left pretty quickly.
Well, one thing is for sure he did jumpstart this entry.
Right now I am sitting here sipping chai at one of the many Starbucks here on the Upper West Side.
Every other new business that opens up here on the Upper West Side is either a Starbucks, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, CVS or a bank. We have a bank on every other block in this town. The city is filled with people opening bank accounts, buying shampoo and drinking 5 dollar coffees. Yet homeless people sleep on every available bench and set of church steps at night.
When I was a kid you’d see winos and the old bag ladies here and there, but now you see lots of young people out on the sidewalk. It’s a sad situation.
Sometimes I ask the young ones questions because I want to know why they are there. They’ll answer too, if you have a dollar in your hand while you’re asking.
I remember being in Union Square Park last summer, when a blonde teen-age boy approached me. He was scruffy with hungry eyes. Before I relinquished my buck he told me his mother had kicked him out in favor of a boyfriend. A lot of kids leave home when mom gets a boyfriend. It breaks my heart. Sometimes I feel like calling their moms up and saying, “Your 17 year old is here on the street. Your boyfriend is probably drinking a beer on your sofa. Why?”
It’s not that I want to deny single moms boyfriends, but their kids are in the street. I want to know if they are actively searching for them.
Then I start thinking of how cool it would be if I could open up a big place somewhere and give these kids a place to live.
Speaking of dreams you know what I’d love to do one day?
I’d love to open up a free center where anyone could come learn and use the Internet for free.
If it were up to me the whole country would have free high speed and free computers to use.
Can you imagine the writing and art we would have access to if everyone could get in on the power of the Internet?
This post has gone all over the place.
I mean I started off telling you about my mail.
So what’s going on with all of you?
The streets of New York are quiet.
The setting of the sun this evening marked the beginning of two holidays: Rosh Hashanah & Ramadan
Those of the Jewish faith joyously welcome in a New Year.
For those of the Muslim faith this is the month that the Quran was revealed. It is a time of inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control.
Though I was raised in neither faith, I did take some time this evening to read about the history and traditions of both holidays.
I am at a point where it is hard for me to answer the religion question.
My approach is integral.
May we all see God in each other.
Good night.
I posted this to my mobile blog this morning.
It became my first post to Writers Island
The Topic was My Imaginary Life
Today the city is quiet and sad.
It feels as if the bricks, stone and mortar are remembering along with the people.
My journals both online and otherwise have almost no entries about what I saw and felt that day.
Why is it six years later I feel the need to get it all down?
Is it grief deferred?
Walking along Broadway I see fireman in dress uniforms - embroidered patches on their shoulders in memory of those lost.
I remember turning along with the massive crowd when that man shouted; “There she goes.”
The second tower fell within itself in just a second or two.
We all turned and continued up 6th Avenue.
One woman began to sob, a businessman carrying a briefcase hushed her quickly.
“Now don’t start any of that!”
And she stopped instantly.
As we continued up the Avenue, an endless dusty joyless parade, I saw people sipping drinks and dining alfresco in the Chelsea cafes.
All I could think of was Nero and his fiddle.
I walked the five and a half miles home.
If it was going to be my last day on earth then I wanted a last long walk.
The weather was unforgettably perfect.
When I close my eyes I can still see the particular blue of that sky.
In My Imaginary Life the event never happened.
Someone removed those men from the planes.
And it was just another day.
The train went express on Saturday night and I ended up in Columbus Circle.
I could have gotten on a local, but the weather was so lovely I figured why not have a Starbucks and walk around a bit.
There was a small vacant table by the window just waiting for me. While sipping on iced chai I alternated between reading a book and writing in my notebook.
My drink finished I left Starbucks to mosey up Broadway. Near Lincoln Center I came upon one Arthur Robins - artist. You can see his work here and here
While I was admiring his paintings and prints I noticed two signs. One said Free Advice & the other Dream Interpretation. I decided to take him up on the free advice, and threw him something that had been on my mind the last few days. You know what? He helped me figure out just the way I’ll have to approach the person to get my message across.
And yes, I did in invest in one of his small prints. A recent shopping spree had lightened my pockets quite a bit. Hopefully I’ll be in the chips again by the end of the week and can get another.
How are all of you doing?
An extra long lavender bubble bath & Dead Sea Salts facial started my day.
One of my favorite outfits all set to go.
The laundry bagged up for drop off.
Let someone else fluff and fold; chores are forbidden today.
And a bit of bloghopping before I hit the streets.
Got my Sunday Scribble up.
Waving at you all from New York.
I can not believe it’s already Friday again.
Just left my e-mail at the NaNoWriMo site, so they’ll send me a reminder in October.
This year will be my third time at it. Last year I managed to get 20k plus before my schedule overwhelmed me. This year my schedule is way more under control & I have my NEO, so maybe year will be the one.
This site has some interesting class offerings; I’m considering the one day workshops.
Oh gosh there goes the phone again.
Back at you soon.
Take care.
I posted this on my mobile blog this morning:
This is one of those times that’s kind of quiet and slow.
It’s that calm they are always talking about.
There’s no storm coming - it’s going to be a tsunami of personal expansion.
I just know the next few months are going to be a very creative period for me.
My philosophy class will be starting in a couple of weeks, and I’m still looking over online writing classes - so hard to choose one.
Feel free to send suggestions.
Everyone once in a while we all need to stare up at the clouds, and let our minds wander a bit.
It will be interesting to see where mine ends up.
Just finished posting my Sunday Scribbling
The topic was the end
I wrote a post while sitting on my new favorite bench. It was all about the end of summer, and the beginning of the school year. So long barbecues, sleeping in and flip flops yadda yadda yadda.
After I finished the post, I called best galpal for a chat while I walked along Riverside Drive.
I decided to stop for lunch, and as I sat nibbling veggie flatbread pizza an incident from my childhood came to mind.
The NEO was propped up on my knee in a nanosecond, and the new post finished in minutes.
That other post got the big D button.
So how was your Sunday?
it’s 10:21am.
I don’t like a lot of bright light in the morning. Actually I don’t like a lot of bright light anytime of the day. My favorite weather is overcast. My favorite light is candlelight. Think of me as a modern day cave dweller; the kind that has a lot of chargers.
Everything is juicing up right now. The camera phone, the regular phone and the laptop are all plugged into outlets.
I want to go sit on my new favorite park bench with a diet something or another and my NEO. I’m determined to post my Sunday Scribbling this week. Last week’s topic was I get a sinking feeling… I tried, but couldn’t come up with anthing. Maybe I just didn’t want to dwell on anything negative.
This week’s topic is the end, and I am looking forward to working on it.
My Saturday evening was spent chatting, actually mostly laughing non-stop, with some new acquaintances.
I’m going to put a CD on and meditate just a bit before I go to the park.
Waving at you from all from my darkened quarters.
